Support for hats



FIG. 2

R O N E V m PAUL J. TEAGUE ATTORNEYS United States .1 SUPPORT FOR HATS Paul J. Teague, 454 W. North St., Wooster, Ohio Filed Sept. '13, 1957, Ser. No. 683,819 Claims. (CL 223-25 The present invention relates to a support or rack for hats. More particularly, the invention relates to a self adjusting resilient structure which will support hats of varied sizes on either a shelf or wall surface.

Hats, particularly mens hats, are generally stored either on a closet shelf or hung on a wall hook. If on a shelf, the brim of the hat rests flat on the shelving surface which is conducive to soiling or changing the shape. If on a hook, the hat is easily deformed, particularly when wet, and may otherwise be damaged.

An object of the present invention is to provide an article of manufacture having a resilient structure which will securely support hats of varied sizes, on a shelf or a wall, without harmful deformation or injury. Another object is to provide such an article in a form which will readily lend itself to low cost and mass production from conventional materials having the requisite properties.

These, as well as further objects of the invention will be apparent in view of the following detailed description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear or top of a hat support according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken substantially as indicated on line 2-2 of Fig. 3, showing the passive condition of the support in full lines, the active condition with a hat thereon being shown by the broken lines; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view from above the support, the passive condition being shown in full lines, the active condition and a hat being shown in broken lines.

The hat support or rack is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 10. The support is attached to a shelf or wall surface S by a tack T, inserted through a hole 11 in a tab 12. The tab 12 is an extension of a flexible and resilient band 15. The band 15 has an upper edge 16, a lower edge 17, an apex area 18 and identical laterally opposite end areas 19 and 19. The end areas 19 and 19' are yieldably connected across the upper edge 16 by a flexible and resilient preferably unitary strap 20.

The upper edge 16 of the band 15 defines a semiellipse having a minor axis xx. The lower edge 17 of the band also defines a semi-ellipse but having a longer minor axis yy. Since the two edges have different minor axes, the side of the hand between the edges affords an outer surface having an outwardly directed downward taper. As described below, the support 16 accommodates different size hats by changing the relative lengths of the minor axes x-x and yy, which changes the taper of the side surface of the band, particularly the taper of the laterally opposite end areas 19 and 19'.

The major axes of the semi-ellipses formed by edges 16 and 17 have not been indicated. However, it is apparent from the drawing that the major axis of the upper edge 16 is shorter than the major axis of the Patented Nov. 1, 1960 ice lower edge 17. Since these axes are of different lengths, the side of band 15 in the apex area 18 will present an outwardly directed downwardly tapered surface. However, the major axes do not change substantially in relation to each other and so the taper of the apex area 18 remains substantially constant, regardless of the size of a hat carried on the support.

Referring to Fig. 2, when a hat is carried on the support 10, the hat brim B will rest on the tapered outer surface between the upper and lower edges 16 and 17. The length of the axes of edges 16 and 17 are so chosen as to provide a taper which will position a large size hat (e.g., 7%) with the brim B slightly above the surface 8.

Referring to Fig. 3, when in a passive condition, the end areas 19 and 19' are furthest apart, that is, axis 2-3 is at its longest distance. When a hat is placed over the top edge 16 and rested upon the tapered outer surface, the end areas 19 and 19" will move closer shortening axis y-y. For a large size hat, the corresponding slight shortening of axis y-y will bow the strap 20 only slightly. However, when a smaller hat is placed on the support, the axis yy will shorten con siderably. Concurrently, the axis x-x of the upper edge 16 will also shorten bowing the strap 20 considerably.

The support 10 is thus readily able to accommodate and securely hold a succession of hats of varied sizes. Large hats are positioned nearer to the lower edge 17 where the large area of the tapered outer surface will provide effective frictional contact. Smaller hats, which contact a smaller area of the tapered side, are frictionally held by the increased bowing of the strap 20.

Referring to Fig. 2, in the preferred form of the inven-' tion the different or divergent planes of edges 16 and 17 would eventually converge at a point rearwardly of tab 12. The heightening of the front areas 19 and 19 thus provided is desirable for the secure accommodation of high crown hats such as a homburg or stetson.

It will also be observed that in the preferred form of the invention, the plane of the lower edge 17 terminates slightly above the connection of tab 12 to the apex area 18. This has been found desirable to ensure that the rear of the brim B of a large hat will not contact the surface S.

The support 10 is preferably formed in one-piece from a material which is resilient, flexible and mechanically stable. The material should also be resistant to moisture and perspiration. Suitable materials possessing the requisite properties will suggest themselves. By way of example only, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer having a compression molding temperature of 300-450" at a pressure of 100045000 p.s.i. could be employed to fabricate a support 10.

What is claimed is:

1. A self adjusting support for varied size hats comprising, a resilient band having laterally opposite ends, an upper formed generally in the shape of a semi-ellipse having a minor axis of a predetermined length, a lower edge also formed generally in the shape of a semi-ellipse but having a minor axis of greater length than the minor axis of said upper edge, the outer surface of said band, particularly in the area of said ends, having an outwardly directed downward taper, and a resilient strap yieldably connecting said ends across said upper edge.

2. A self adjusting support for varied size hats comprising, a resilient band having laterally opposite ends, an upper edge formed generally in the shape of a semiellipse having a minor axis of a predetermined length, a lower edge also formed generally in the shape of a semi-ellipse but having a minor axis of greater length than the minor axis of said upper edge, the outer surface of said band, particularly in the area of said ends, having an outwardly directed downward taper, a resilient strap yieldably connecting said ends across said upper edge, and tab means medially of said ends for attaching said band to a storagesurface.

3. A self adjusting support for varied size hatscomprising, a resilient band having. upper and lower edges in divergent planes, said upper and lower edgesbeing formed generally in the shape of semi-ellipses with the minor axis of said lower edge being longer than the minor axis of said upper edge so that the outer side of said band affords a surface having an outwardly directed downward taper, said band further having laterally opposite ends at the point of. greatest divergence of said edges, and a resilient strap yieldably connecting said ends across said upper edge.

4. A self adjusting support for varied size hats comprising, a resilient band having laterally opposite ends and upper and lower edges formed generally in the shape of semi-ellipses, the minor axis of the semi-ellipse formed by said lower edge being of greater length than the minor axis of the semi-ellipse formed by said upper edge so that the outer side of said band afiords a surface hav ing an outwardly directed downward taper, and a resilient strap yieldably connecting said ends across said upper edge.

5. A self adjusting support for varied size hats comprising, a resilient band having laterally opposite ends and upper and lower edges formed generally in the shape of semi-ellipses, the. minor axis of the semi-ellipse formed by said lower edge being of greater length than the minor axis of the semi-ellipse formed by said upper edge so that the outer side of said band affords a surface having an outwardly directely downward taper, a resilient strap yieldably connecting said ends across said upper edge, and means medially of said ends for attaching said band to a storage surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain .July 1,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,958,446 November 1, 1960 Paul J. Teague It is hereby-certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 56, after "upper" insert edge Signed and sealed this 9th day of May 1961.

ERNEST Wo SWIDER DAVID L LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

